Mirabe tilted her head, a yful spark in her eyes. "Oh, what''s this? You nning to y tough?"


    Presley let out a cold chuckle. "I''m just saying, crossing the Pharmaceutical Association isn''t doing you any favors. You gave a form to Devon; surely you could provide a few more without much hassle. Why make it a bigger deal than it has to be?"


    Wouldn''t it be better if everyone just got what they needed?


    "And why should I hand over my forms to you? Is your face somehow more important than everyone else''s?" Mirabe scoffed, "Threats won''t work on me." Presley was taken aback by her audacity, feeling both frustrated and amused.


    Shaking his head, he thought it was beneath him to argue with someone so young. Calming down, he said, "This isn''t a threat. Handing over the forms is part of your job, especially since you signed an agreement with the association. You can''t afford the consequences of breaking it."


    The Pharmaceutical Association had plenty of ways to make someone disappear. Mirabe nodded. "This is the first time I''ve heard someone so openly im that stealing forms is a duty. Go on, I''m curious about these ''consequences.""


    Presley couldn''t help butugh. It was his first time dealing with someone so unfazed. But he had time; he''d get those forms eventually.


    For a moment, the room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Then, the office door burst open with a loud bang.


    Presley frowned and looked up to see Devon, smelling strongly of chemicals, stride in.


    "Ever heard of knocking?" Presley snapped.


    Devon, David''s apprentice, never sat well with Presley, especially since Devon had repeatedly outshone Presley''s apprentice, Conrad.


    Devon, more into pharmacology than small talk, seemed unfazed by Presley''s scolding. As he was about to speak, his eyesnded on a document on the coffee table.


    Narrowing his eyes, he snatched it


    up, skimmed through it quickly, and turned back to Presley, his face


    nk


    Presley''s temper red, and he mmed his hand on the desk. "Devon, watch your mouth."


    The nerve of this guy!


    Devon smirked, his scruffy chin dark


    with stubble, as he tossed theē


    document back on the table. "Ms. Mirabe''s someone my mentor


    brought in. Trying to buy her off isn''t


    exactly ssy, is it?"


    Presley, feeling his pride pricked, red at Devon. "You trying to tell me how to do my job?"


    "Not at all," Devon said, smirking.


    After seeing the recent shifts in the


    association; he saw through


    vel


    Presley''s facade and didn''t care


    about offending him. "Just


    remember, don''t stoop too low, or


    you''ll end up regretting it."


    Then he turned to Mirabe, his icy demeanor melting away, his tone suddenly polite. "Hey, I''ve hit a snag with a new drug I''m working on. Mind giving me a hand?"


    Presley stood there in silence, fuming.